William McHenry and Sons Distillery

William McHenry hatched the idea of starting a distillery whilst living in Sydney. His research led him to set up near Port Arthur, with it having all the elements needed to make great whisky.

William McHenry & Sons Distillery is found on the side of Mount Arthur which stands close to Port Arthur, Tasmania. The property has three all year round springs which supply the distillery with the purest and highest quality water.

The current range consists of a 10-year-old single malt under a Three Capes label, distilled and aged by Patrick Maguire at the Tasmanian Distillery in Cambridge, plus a triple-distilled vodka and a two varieties of gin. The sloe gin uses sloe berries that have been sourced from hedgerows found at roadsides in the north of the state. The dry gin balances the flavours of citrus peel with small amounts of cardamon, coriander, juniper, orris root and star anise.

For the canny investor you can also invest in a barrel of whisky which the Distillery will buy back at a fixed price on maturation (generally 5 years). Or they can advise you on the best time to send your barrel for bottling. When the whisky is ready the Distillery can bottle up your investment ready for you to enjoy.

Plans are being actioned on to build a bond store, a tasting room and a small function centre. A garden is being worked on with plantings of sloe berries, orris root, cardamon, pepper berries, saffron and angelica.

Until a tasting facility is up and running, visitors are welcome by appointment. Products are sold at Salamanca Market on Saturdays in Hobart and some independent grocers.